Volunteer Week 2013 - thanks a million

The Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare (AWCH) would like to thank our Hospital Ward Grandparents, Board Members and Office volunteers for their time, thoughts and energy in doing a myriad of tasks, which are always done with grace, fun and laughter.

Thanks a million! The support you provide through your involvement with AWCH enables families to continue to nurture their children through the stresses and strains of a hospital experience.

My friend with Autism

My friend with Autism

Enhanced edition with free CD of coloring pages

Written by Beverly Bishop, illustrated by Craig Bishop

Future Horizons, Texas, 2011.

My friend with autism is written in a friendly tone and there are bright illustrations throughout. It is essentially written for school children to encourage better understanding and knowledge of peers with autism. The story is narrated from a child’s perspective and begins with “I have a friend with autism. He is good at many things”. The friend with autism is described in a positive manner and the theme of friendship is developed. 

The book addresses sensory sensitivity, communication differences, playtime and provides children with an example of what this might be like for a child with autism.

The setting is at school and teachers who have this book at hand can read it to develop student understanding through the example of the narrator, “I can help him by showing him how well I sit quietly”. 

Adults will be able to refer to the section at the end of the book with page-by-page notes and  helpful  thumbprint illustrations for further information and overview. 

Find also 18 symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder, 10 Quick strategies for helping a child with Autism and Recommended reading, with thumbprints of book covers. The accompanying CD contains additional colouring pages of material from the book.

Review by:

Jillian Rattray

AWCH Librarian

April 2013

Prescription for success: supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment

Prescription for success: supporting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Medical Environment

Hudson, Jill

Shawnee Mission, Kan.: Autism Asperger Pub. Co., 2006.

Written by a Child Life specialist (Play therapist) from John Hopkins Hospital, this book is essentially aimed at supporting families. It is a communication tool for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to use when visiting health professionals. The book starts with a look at the medical encounter and presents this experience from the child’s point of view. The title “Prescription for success” reflects the focus on preparation both prior to and during the child’s medical encounter.

The motivation for the book is to support children with ASD better, health professionals in hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dentists, administrative staff and others will be learn more about the children’s needs from this overview. Importantly, the book is engaging because it is written in a friendly, easy-to-read format and includes practical and creative techniques. Chapters cover the Medical encounter; characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; developmental levels; assessment; interventions and supports (pp 49-73) and effective implementation of interventions and supports. A large section on interventions and supports will help to bridge knowledge gaps  medical professionals may experience. 

Find also appendices with the role of service providers as well additional resources and games to prepare for medical encounters. There is an accompanying CD with forms, activities and games worksheets which can be printed and duplicated. Illustrations are in black and white. More resources of this nature which are both family-centered and helpful for health professionals, would be welcome.

This book is available for loan from the AWCH collection at call number: 618.9285882 HUD 1

Book Review written by

Jillian Rattray

AWCH librarian

 

Take Action to End Government and Super Fund Investment in Tobacco

The tobacco industry has lost almost a billion dollars of Australian investment over the past year thanks to a campaign by health groups - including ASH Australia and other partners in Protecting Children from Tobacco (AWCH is a member at  www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/ProtectChildrenEndorsements.htm).

Our partners have stressed the industry’s appalling Environment, Social and Governance record, especially its practices of targeting children in promotion and exploiting child labour. This has led to three state/territory governments divesting and also the Federal government’s Future Fund, as well as several super funds. This is money the industry can’t use to addict kids.

One suggested action to help with this campaign:  encourage your friends, employees, volunteers and supporters to write to their MPs and ministers as well as their own super/pension/retirement fund and seek more information about size/nature of their tobacco investments, and seek investment policies excluding tobacco.  Background, arguments, latest developments, who to write to and how at www.ashaust.org.au/lv4/Lv4action_investment.htm .

  
Written by:
Stafford Sanders
Coordinator
Protecting Children from Tobacco
ASH Australia http://www.ashaust.org.au/

Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues

Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues
By Robyn Hart and Judy Rollins.
John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011, 379 p. ISBN 9780470555002.
Bibliography, pp  339-364. Includes CD-ROM.

 “Therapeutic activities for children and teens coping with health issues” is a book richly filled with activities to assist health professionals, child life therapists, counsellors and social workers in their work with families. Activities and related information promote adaptation and coping for children, adolescents and their families in hospital or living with health issues. It is great to see so many ideas presented in an easily readable format, with over 200 practical activities to choose from.

Chapters focus on promoting understanding and coping for adolescents and children through different aspects of their healthcare experiences. Topics of the 16 chapters include separation and anxiety, self expression, socialization and help with many aspects of coping with illness. Set out in a clear way, each topic covers an overview, special considerations and coping interventions. The theoretical framework behind each topic is outlined. Activities are set out using an easy-to-read table which includes: therapeutic goals, age group, adult/child ratio, required time, restrictions and precautions and materials. You will also find an extensive bibliography (pp  339-364) as well as black and white illustrations and photographs. The accompanying CD has activity sheets and templates that can be customised.

With a great mix of theory and hands on, this book is sure to be a helpful reference tool and provide both information and inspiration. In fact I think I’ll gather up my supplies and try my hand at making a volcano.

About the authors
Robyn Hart, director of Child Life at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Judy Rollins, coordinator of the Studio G Artist in Residence Program at Georgetown University Hospital and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine. This is the second  book they have worked together on, the previous award winning book is entitled, Therapeutic play activities for hospitalized children.

Keywords: Activities; Adaptation, psychology; Adolescent psychology; Bereavement; Body image; Child life; Child, hospitalised; Child psychology; Culture; Death; Families; Group work; Hospitalization; Medical art; Medical equipment; Mental health; Pain; Patients; Play therapy; Self-esteem; Self-expression; Therapeutic activities; Therapy

Awards
Winner of the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year 2011
(Category: Maternal And Child Health)

Other titles also by Judy Rollins available for loan from the AWCH collection:
Meeting children's psychosocial needs: across the health-care continuum / Judy A. Rollins, Rosemary Bolig and Carmel C. Mahan. Austin, Texas: Pro-ed, 2005. xv, 551 p.: Includes bibliographical references and index. Call number: 618.92 ROL 1
Core curriculum for the nursing care of children and their families / Marion E. Broome, Judy A. Rollins, Editors. Pitman, New Jersey: Jannetti Publications Inc., 1999. Call number: 610.7362 BRO 2


Review By:
Jillian Rattray
AWCH Librarian
March, 2013